nothing like getting your car back and realizing you’re now playing accountant with a pile of rental receipts
That’s exactly what I’m worried about. I’m new to all this, and honestly, the idea of having to front the money for a rental and then chase down reimbursement just sounds like a headache. My cousin had a similar thing with Progressive—her car was in the shop for weeks after a fender bender, and she kept getting bounced between the shop and the claims rep about who was paying for what. She said it worked out, but it took a lot of phone calls and some serious patience.
I’ve been reading through the fine print (even though my eyes glaze over after a few paragraphs), and it’s wild how much stuff is buried in there. Like, I didn’t even realize some policies cap the rental coverage per day, so if you end up with a pricier rental, you’re on the hook for the difference. Not sure if that’s just a NY thing or what.
Anyway, I’m leaning toward whoever makes the process less of a hassle, even if it costs a bit more. Peace of mind is worth something, right?
the idea of having to front the money for a rental and then chase down reimbursement just sounds like a headache
Honestly, that’s one of the biggest pain points I see people run into. Both Geico and Progressive can be a bit “hands off” with rentals in NY, but it really depends on the shop and the adjuster you get. Some shops will bill direct to the insurer, but not all. And yeah, those daily caps sneak up on you—$30 a day doesn’t go far if you need a bigger car or it’s a busy week at the rental place. I’d say if peace of mind is your thing, it’s worth asking each company how they actually handle rentals in your zip code, not just what the policy says. Sometimes the real answer is buried in the details... or on hold with customer service.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had the opposite experience with Progressive in NY. Maybe I just lucked out, but when my car was in the shop last winter, the rental process was smoother than I expected. The shop handled most of it, and I didn’t have to front any cash. That said, I totally agree about those daily caps—they’re almost a joke if you need anything bigger than a compact or if there’s a holiday surge.
But here’s the thing: sometimes it’s less about the company and more about which body shop you use. Some shops have those direct billing relationships dialed in, others don’t bother. I’d almost say picking a shop that knows how to work the system is just as important as picking the insurer. And yeah, customer service can be hit or miss... but I wouldn’t write off either company just because of the rental hassle. Sometimes it’s just about finding the right combo of shop and adjuster who actually care enough to help you out.
- Totally agree about the shop making a difference. Had a situation with Geico where the first shop dragged their feet and didn’t handle the rental at all, but switching to a shop that worked directly with them was night and day.
- Rental caps really are laughable—if you need an SUV for a family trip, forget it.
- I’ve noticed Progressive’s online claims process is smoother, but Geico’s call center folks seemed more helpful to me, at least when I had a windshield claim.
- End of the day, I just compare quotes every year and don’t get too attached to one company... they both have their quirks.
Rental caps really are laughable—if you need an SUV for a family trip, forget it.
That’s been my exact headache. We had to squeeze three kids and a dog into a sedan rental after our van got rear-ended, because the cap barely covered the smallest car. I get why they do it, but it’s not realistic for families. Has anyone actually managed to get an insurer to budge on the rental type, or is it always a hard no?
